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Mark Twain is born
Samuel Langhorne Clemens is born in Florida and is the sixth born of John Marshall and Jane Lampton Clemens. -
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Mark Twain
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Family Moves to Hannibal
"The Clemens family moves to Hannibal, Missouri, a riverbank town that is a frequent stop for steamboats traveling the Mississippi. Young Samuel reverses the riverboat pilots and hopes to become one himself." -
Death of Twain's Father
Samuel's father John Clemens dies, forcing the family into financial hardship. -
Twain works as a printer
At the age of 15, Samuel leaves school and goes to work as a printer in Hannibal. -
Apprentice River Pilot
"Samuel Clemens begins a successful two-year apprenticeship to become a licensed river pilot. He learns the lingo of the trade, including "mark twain," a phrase that refers to the river depth at which a boat is safe to navigate. He soon adopts it as his pen name." -
Death of Twain's Brother
"Twain's youngest brother Henry is killed tragically at the age of 20 in an explosion on the steamboat Pennsylvania. Henry had been training to become a steamboat pilot, at Twain's encouragement. Twain, devastated by his brother's death, feels responsible for it for the rest of his life. -
Twain in California
Twain travels to northern California, visiting Calavaras County before settling in San Francisco. -
"Jumping Frog" Published
The short story "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog" (later "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavaras County") appears in the New York Saturday Press. -
Twain Meets Future Wife
Twain is introduced to Olivia "Livy" Langdon, the sister of a friend. He is instantly smitten. -
The Innocents Abroad Published
Mark Twain's first book, The Innocents Abroad, becomes a bestseller. -
Clara Clemens Born
Daughter Clara is born -
Huck Finn
In the span of less than a year, Twain publishes both his greatest fiction and non-fiction works: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and a biography of President Ulysses S. Grant. -
Death of Susy Clemens
Twain's 24-year-old daughter Susy dies of meningitis in the U.S. while Twain is lecturing in Europe. Twain, who was particularly close to his oldest daughter, is devastated. He never fully recovers from her death, which marks the end of his most successful period as a writer. -
Death of Livy Clemens
"Twain's wife Livy dies after a serious two-year illness. Following his wife's death, Twain moves to New York City and begins writing his autobiography." -
Family Troubles
Twain's youngest daughter Jean is institutionalized due to severe epilepsy. Twain's biographer, Albert Bigelow Paine, moves in with Twain to collect material. -
Death of Mark Twain
Mark Twain dies at the age of 74 at his home in Redding, Connecticut.
